President Akufo-Addo has touted the achievements his government has chalked with the ban on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey in the country.

According to him, the ban on the menace has helped the country reduce its carbon emissions.

Addressing the 2023 Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, he said over 20,000 Ghanaians have been employed to plant trees to help the country restore degraded lands. 

He indicated that the aim is to sustain positive results the government has achieved in this endeavour and same will not be reneged upon.

“We placed a ban on illegal mining the phenomenon we call galamsey which was destroying our water bodies, vegetation and our forest. Some 20, 000 young people have been engaged to plant more than 30 million trees in two years to create jobs and restore degraded lands”

“These policy initiatives are already yielding positive results in the attainment of SDG Goals, particularly the goal of reducing our carbon emissions,” President Akufo-Addo said. 

President Akufo-Addo also added that several flagship policy initiatives such as planting for food and jobs, one village, one dam and the ban on illegal mining have all contributed to reducing carbon emissions. 

These policies, Mr Akufo-Addo also insisted are helping the country build resilience to the impact of climate change.

He thus advised other African countries to take similar steps to reduce their carbon emissions and help the continent build resilience to the impacts of climate change.